When it comes to pain problems, some parts of the body may feel pain because of an issue in a completely different area. This is because of the interconnectivity of the human body and its systems. When it comes to pain felt in the hip or knee, this is especially true. One example is tendonitis. While it may originate in the hips or legs, discomfort may be felt in both regardless of your level of activity. Additionally, knee pain may be the only indicator of a hip problem, as hip issues can cause pain in the groin all the way down to the knee. This is also known as referred or radiated pain, which is very common.

For these reasons, it’s important when dealing with a hip or knee issue to work with a professional doctor that understands the interconnectivity of the human system and the importance of treating the ‘whole’ patient. At Vitality Integrative Wellness, we often use regenerative therapy in the treatment of hip, knee and leg issues due to the results we have seen in the improvement of our patients’ conditions.

Common Causes of Hip & Knee Pain

There are many potential causes of hip pain, including:

• Bursitis – Inflammation of the fluid sacs that keep muscles and tendons from rubbing against bone
• Tendonitis – Tenderness from movement or touch in the groin or hip flexor (muscle group that allows you to bring your knee and leg towards your body
• Labral Tears – Tear in the labrum, or the ring of cartilage surrounding the hip socket that ensures the ball of the thighbone stays in place
• Core Muscle Injury – An example would be a tear or strain of muscles or other soft tissues in the lower abdomen
• Hip Impingement / Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) – Hip bones become infused into an abnormal shape, limiting movement
• Osteoarthritis – Joints become swollen and stiff due to issues such as inflammation and the breakdown of cartilage
• Gynecological or Pelvic Floor Problems – Many issues starting in the pelvis may be felt in the hip

Some of these problems may indirectly cause issues with the knee, or the knee may actually have some of the same problems. Knee pain may also be caused by bursitis, tendonitis and osteoarthritis, for example.

Other causes of knee pain include:

• Chondromalacia Patella – Cartilage damage under the kneecap
• Gout – Arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid
• Baker’s Cyst – A buildup of synovial fluid (responsible for lubricating the joint) behind the knee
• Torn Ligament – Tear in any of four ligaments in the knee, typically the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)
• Bone Tumors – Bone tumors or cancer of the knee, such as Osteosarcoma
• Meniscus Tear – Rupture in one or more parts of the cartilage in the knee
• Dislocation – Kneecap may become dislocated from trauma
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – Chronic autoimmune condition resulting in inflammation that can lead to many issues, such as deformity of the joint and erosion of the bone

Like hip issues, many of these problems of the knee may result in referred pain to the hip. This further complicates the process of diagnosing the issue and treating the root cause of the condition.

Regenerative Therapy for Hip & Knee Pain

Regenerative medicine may be the preferred alternative to conventional therapies in many situations for issues causing hip and knee pain. While surgery is necessary for some severe issues, certain problems can be treated noninvasively with regenerative therapy. Additionally, regenerative therapy may work hand-in-hand with other approaches to treating these conditions to maximize the results.

One of the reasons many patients prefer regenerative therapies, such as those utilizing umbilical cord allograft and/or platelet-rich plasma (PRP), is that they aim to treat the root of the problem and often may offer better results for qualified patients.

While regenerative medicine should not be considered a “cure” for any of these conditions, many patients find that regenerative therapy offers them just as good or better results compared to more invasive approaches like surgery or strong prescriptions. Anti-inflammatory medications tend to lose effectiveness over time; pain medication even more so, with the added complication of being addictive and often having a plethora of side effects.

Regenerative medicine utilizing umbilical cord allograft offers the potential benefits it does because of MSCs. MSCs, or mesenchymal stem cells, have the ability to differentiate into many different cell types. This means that when placed at the site of an injury, MSCs may be directed by cytokines to the site of a problem for regenerative purposes. While regenerative therapy is aimed at treating the symptoms of many conditions, it may go further due to these MSCs and resolve the root cause of many issues. This includes those involving the hip and knee.

To find out if regenerative therapy is right for your condition, contact Vitality Integrative Wellness today! 

Choose Vitality Integrative Wellness

Dr. Ali Nassiry, Medical Director & Founder of Vitality Integrative Wellness, has a unique approach to regenerative medicine. Practical and effective, our regenerative therapies combined with traditional medicine have shown a strong rate of success for favorable candidates. Many of our patients have reported noticeable and worthy improvements to many of their conditions and/or symptoms. Some stories are practically miraculous in the level of improvement reported.

Results from regenerative medicine may vary, but we welcome new success stories every day. From slight pain relief to remarkable transformations in quality of life, we consistently hear that regenerative therapies were worth it. Our goal is to give our patients a newfound confidence in their ability to live their lives well. From surviving to thriving, Vitality Integrative Wellness wants to get you past whatever obstacle is keeping you from living up to your maximum potential.

Contact us to schedule an appointment with our medical office today! You may also call us at: 714-707-2020.